John b



J. B. BURDETT.

LARGE CAPACITY CELL FOR GENERATING HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-2?, 1920. 1,368,206. Patented Feb. 8,1921.

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fwenzorx kfofin B Burie v 1. a. gunman. LARGE CAPACITY CELL FOR GENERATING HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN. APPLICATION FILED SEI'T- 21, I920.

1,368,206. Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

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John B;

To all whom it may concern:

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UNITED STATES] PATIENT, OFFICE.

JOHN B. BURDETT. or GLnNoon, rrmivors, .ASSIGNOR memes MANUFAoTuRING COMPANY, or oHIoAeo,'ILLINoIs, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE. v

LARGE-CAPACITY onLLroR GENERATING HYDROGEN AND oxironii. I

Be it known that I, JoHN Bunon'r'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glencoe, in the county of Cook and State 1 of Illinoishave invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Large-Capacity Cells for Generating Hydrogen and Oxygen, of]

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for the electrolytic production of hydrogen andoxygen gas; its object is to greatly increasethe productive capacity of the cell of my prior United States Patent Number 1,086,804: without changing the dimensions ofthe great majority of the parts thereof. The invention consists in means fordelivering to and through the electrodes of said cell va much larger electric current than is possible mthe device as shown in said patent. 'More specifically the invention consistsin means providing large electric conductors leading to the electrodes combined with' improved means for making efficient electric connection between said conductors and the electrode without in any way destroying, the elliciency of thedevice or increasing the size of the electrodes or'adjacent' parts. --Theinvention further consists in many features and details 0'1": construction'hereafter more fully set forth'in the specification and claims. Referring to the drawings in which like numerals denote like parts throughout the several views, I Figure l is a sectional view of mechanism illustrating this invention in its preferred form, more particularly one of the electrodes and the means for makinglarge capacity electrical connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a plan view'taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. U v

Fig. 3 is an end sectional view taken on The cellshown in the drawings is conventionally of the same form as that of said prior. patent; the same'numeralsot reference being for convenience used. It ncludes in a general a case 11 containing the electrode element 12 consisting of a casting 13providedwith e'nds14 and sides 15. The element is suitably supported with its open end downwardupon insulators d! The casting 13 consists of; a box like structure divided into a-numberjof compartments by partitions 16 parallel to each other, extend ngfrom end to end of the castin'g'1'3. The'par- Specification of Letters-l atent.

the idea being I tion'of sufficient current carrying capacity about the same.

. titions 16 each carry a diaphragm2l of asbesto'sor other suitable material extending to the bottom level 22 0f the element 12,

whereby a plurality of chambers 62 and 63 are formed constituting cathode and anode compartments of the cellin which are placed electrode is supported from the casting 13 by two suspension devices one in each end. The smaller of these, a rod 70, is merely a suspension device insulated from the electrode at 72 in any well known manner and does 'not enter directlyinto this invention. The other suspension which is very important consists in a relatively large conductor rod 74 lnsulated throughout its length and particularly from the casting 13 by the in-' .sulating packing 76. I It is, provided at its top with connecting means for the bus bars 7 8 separated by a spacing washer 80 to allow for ventilation The lower end ofthis rod 74 extends some distance, below the upper edge 82 of the electrode 35 or 36, as'the case may be,'and is thoroughly connected in the present case hereillustrated, by screw threads at 82 into the triangular or wedge shaped contact block '84: of electrical con- Patented. Feb. 8, 1921. Application filed September 27, 1920. Serial No. 413,089. v l i the electrodes 35 and 36 just as in said prior patent. Each electrode is made in rectan ducting material which has its pointed end 86 extending well down the .end wall of the [electrode while its widest part or base 88 is atthe top'of-thefelectrode. The shape of theblock maybe varied within limits with- ,out departing from the invention. This block 84 is both riveted inplace' by belts or rivets 90 and is in addition preferably weld-' ed to the side and end walls of the electrode,

to make an electrical connecbetween" the relatively large rod 74' and the spread out plates forming the sides and ends of the electrode. In other words the intention is that the carrying" capacity of the rod 74, the wedgeand the plates 38' shall be So far as this invention is concerned-the'electrodes 35 and 36 are exactly alike exceptthat the cathodes have the large conductors 745 at one end while the anodes have them at the other.

of theelectric current from one electrode as ii i 85 to the adjacent electrode 36, through the intervening diaphragm 21 decomposes the water surrounding electrodes into hydrogen and oXygenas fully explained in said prior patent. These gas bubbles "form rapidly on the outside surfaces of the plates 38 forming the sides of the box-like electrode as or 36, as the case may be, and rise to the surface and are collected in gas chambers 92 or 94 as the case may be, provided for the purpose. In order to assist these bubbles to rise rapidly and therefore increase the eiiiciency of the battery, it is important to have water in the battery above the upper edges 82 of the electrode so that water rising with the bubbles can flow over the top 82 and return down interior passage 96 where there are no bubbles, i. e. no gas being formed. In order that this operation may be carried out efliciently it is necessary that the area at the top of the electrode, of the opening leading to the passage 94, shall be of maximum capacity to allow for rapid flow of the water over the top of the electrode and down 'the center passage 96.

quires that the large capacity conducting 'blocks 84 be shaped as shown and located at the extreme end of the electrode. To partially or wholly close the top of the electrode for the purpose of securing good electrical connections at that pointwith the conductor '74 would be fatal to the proper operation of the device.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cell of the class described, an electrode having vertical thereto and connecting devices attached to the carrying member and attached to the plates in vertical lines extending below the upper edges of the plates;

A. In a cell of the class described, an electrode having spaced apart side Walls, a conductor leading to theupper end thereof and a connecting block of greater vertical 5. In a cell than horizontal length attached to the conductor and to an interior wallof the elec trode. 7

of the class described, an

This absolutely re-.

spaced apart plates, a conductor leading to the top thereelectrode having spaced apart side walls, a condnctorleading to the upper end thereoi and bottom for the passage of liquid from top to bottom of the electrode, a large capacity electric conductor entering one end of the electrode from the top and a wedge shaped conductor connector attached to said conductor part, with the base of the wedge at the top of the electrode and its point at the end of the electrode and near the bottom thereof, and means for electrically connecting said wedge block to the interior of the wall of the electrode.

7. In a device of the class described, a hollow electrode comprising parallel side walls and connecting end parts, open'top and bottom for the passage of liquid from top to bottom of the electrode, a large ca-j pacity electric conductor entering one end of the electrode from the top and a wedge shaped conductor connector attached to said conductor part, with thebase of the wedge at the top of the electrode and its point at the end of theelectrode and near the bottom thereof, and welding means for electrically connecting said wedge block to the interior of the wall of the electrode.

8. As an article of manufacture, an electrode consisting of twoparallel separated metal plates of relative large area, spaced apart at their ends their being interposed between said plates at one end of the electrode a downwardly pointed wedge shaped block welded thereto, said wedge being adapted at its upper end for electric connection with a current carrying rod of very substantial capacity.

9. In a battery cell, an electrode having spaced apart plates, a conductor, and a connecting block electrically connecting the ing saidco'nductor and walls and having the upright dlmensionof its place of engagement with said walls in excess of the horizontal dimension of its place of engagement with said walls,

12. In a battery cell, an electrode having upright spaced apart plates, a conductor,

and a connecting block disposed between and engaging the inner faces of the plates and electrically connecting said conductor and plates and having the upright dimenj a 10 sion of its place of engagementwith said plates in excess of the horizontal dimension of its place of engagement with said plates.

In'witnes's whereof I have hereuntosubscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses. t

I I YJOHN B. BURDETT.

e Witnesses: a.

DWIGHT B. CHEEVER, I

ANNA RosENTHA 

